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Tonya Papanikolas reporting
Two massage therapists have been arrested for sexually abusing clients in separate incidents.
Police say two women came forward to tell officers what happened at two separate massage businesses. The therapists have been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.
The first incident happened on Sept. 8, at the Matrix Massage across from Trolley Square Mall. The woman told police 30-year-old Robert Jones sexually abused her. Jones was booked into jail on a count of forcible sodomy. Police say he was not licensed to practice massage.
Another woman told police she was assaulted early last week at Massage Envy. The massage therapist there, 27-year-old Robert Barela, was booked on one count of rape and two counts of forcible sex abuse. He was licensed.
Again, these two cases are not related, and officers do not believe other massage therapists at the companies were doing anything wrong.
Detective Jeff Bedard, with the Salt Lake City Police Department, said, "It looks like what you have here is a rogue individual, a criminal in each situation going out and committing criminal acts. And unfortunately they tarnish the reputation and image these companies have worked so hard to establish."
Both businesses are still open. The regional director of Massage Envy told us the company has policies to guard against abuse, but it is taking the charge very seriously. It plans to release a statement tomorrow.
In the meantime, police want to know if any other clients were abused by these men. They're asking anyone with information to contact the Salt Lake Police Department at 799-7000.
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